Image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

The Thermangel has many practical advantages which have been previously mentioned such as cost-effectiveness of patient care, improved patient outcomes, convenience, enhancing the current clinical practice of medicine. All age groups stand to benefit from the invention of the Thermangel. We will be better able to manage the health of many people by utilizing this thermocorrecting device. In addition, with an aging population and a nursing shortage we must find ingenious ways to cut cost and improve care.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention was designed on Nov. 3, 2001. Its conception began over 5 years ago, while working as a nurse in a community hospital. I was taking care of a patient whose temperature had climbed to 104 degrees fahrenheit. The standard protocol for this patient was to apply ice packs to the groin and axilla. However, I decided to try a different approach and it worked beautifully. And this is how the invention began.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0002] To describe the prior art of thermoregulation intervention is two part. I will describe how hyperthermia/hypothermia was previously treated as well as the closest cousin to this design.

[0003] Hyperthermia is a condition where the temperature is too high. This is commonly found in sepsis, a massive infection state where the body begins to shut down from the illness. Hyperthermia is also found in drug reactions, heatstroke, thyroid disorders, alcohol withdrawal and many other illnesses. It is commonly treated with tylenol, ice baths, cooling blankets and ice packs to the groin and axilla (underarms). These approaches are both problematic and costly, as well as ineffective for any length of time if at all. Usually, when someone is hyperthermic, they are critically ill or near death. It is for this reason that this patent needs an expedited review, as we have an aging population and soaring medical expenses, we need all of the cost-effective means of treating illness we can get.

[0004] Hypothermia is a condition where the temperature of the body is too low. This hapens due to exposure of the elements, near drownings, and accidental exposures. The current techniques used to treat this condition are gastric lavage, which is heated water flushed through the stomach to heat the body. It is the idea to heat from the inside out as you would not want to send cold blood to the heart or brain as this increases the likelihood of mortality.

[0005] The closest designs I could find were used for other purposes. For example, the “Chillow” is a flat, thin product placed in between the pillow and the pillowcase to keep your pillowcase cool and to treat minor heat related problems such as sunburn and backaches. It is not designed for clinical use nor would it be able to affect a truly hyperthermic patient as it is not equipped for that degree of thermoregulation. Also, it was not designed with a diagnostic or clinical capacity in mind. There is also a product that heats from the palm of the hand. There also various cooling devices used for coolers that are small, blue ice packs. You may have one in your home. My device is different in that it reduces or raises the body temperature and maintains it. You must be very careful in that you do not lower or raise the temperature too much and that the achieved temperature is maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The Thermangel is a thermoregulating unit that resembles a pillow. The patient lays on the pillow and is thermoregulated by lying on the pillow by way of cooling or heating the posterior portion of the neck, head and hairline. The pillow has three compartments with an insulative lining, gel layer and thermoregulatory layer. The pillow has an attached probe on the right or left side of the with an earplug or axillary probe to monitor the patient's temperature. There is also a cord attached to the apparatus that connects to the wall unit and interprets the patient response. Another cord then attaches to the electrical outlet for power supply. This display could also be directly on the unit or at a remote location for ease of monitoring. The wall unit displays the patients response such as vital signs, time of therapy, goal temperature, heart rate, respirations, and even alarm functions. In addition, a conducting substance could be applied to the patient to speed the thermocorrection process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The thermal medical device has a hollow outer insulative layer (FIG. 1a). Wool or any insulating substance or material has long been used for its insualtive qualities for both heat and cold. The next layer (FIG. 2a) is an opening for the gel layer. The device and its subcomponents are all made of a vinyl polymer or similar thermoconductive material. The next layer (FIG. 3a) is composed of a thermoconductive material is filled with a substance to help radiate the heat or cold from the patient and is shaped to fit in the first layer with room left for the actual heating or cooling apparatus (FIG. 4a). The inner layer (FIG. 5a) is the compartment for the actual thermoregulatory apparatus, either ice, a cold pack or another cooling device(figure 6a). The heating thermoregulatory apparatus (FIG. 7a) may also be used in this compartment in the situation of hypothermia. There are various types of thermoregulatory devices which may be used for the heating process, such as heated water or any other heated substance. On the right or left side of the device is a cord (FIG. 8a) which connects to either the wall display unit (FIG. 9a) or attached digital display device (FIG. 10a). The wall display unit then has a power cord (FIG. 11a) which connects to a standard electical outlet (FIG. 11b). In addition, you can also construct a remote monitoring apparatus (FIG. 12a) to see the patient progress. The display unit will show the patient's (FIG. 13a) temperature, and other pertinent data regarding the patient's condition such as heart rate, respirations, length of therapy time and change of temperature, as well as the desired temperature to be achieved. The temperature probe(FIG. 14a-b-c) could be either applied to the ear or axilla of the patient as well the forehead if clinical conditions warrant such use. The earprobe could be shaped like around the base of the ear or like an earplug. The axillary probe could be a probe that is permanently placed for constant monitoring. These devices would be constructed with a plastic material similar to those found in the market today. This allows for constant monitoring of the patient. 

1. I claim that the Thermangel will decrease the body temperature to a normal range. The Thermangel would be suited for thermocorrecting anyone suffering from a temperature disturbance. It has the ability to heat or cool the human body from 0.75 degrees to 1.5 degrees per hour. The patient in a hyperthermic state, usually has an accompanying tachycardia or increased heart rate which could further damage or worsen their clinical condition. This device has the ability to correct the temperature and stabilize the patient's vital signs. This device would also drastically cut the expense of health care especially for the elderly who are very prone to infection, especially if they are in a nursing home or chronically sick. It would decrease the time spent in the intensive care unit setting, decrease the use of medicines to control the temperature disturbance as well increase the likelihood of recovery of the patient. This unit will not cure the underlying cause of the thermoregulatory problem but it will make treatment of the disorder or illness much easier, quicker, and less costly.
 2. I claim that the Thermangel would be ideal for the enhancing the surgical setting. This unit is also ideal for the surgical setting. There is a condition known as Malignant Hyperthermia, which is has a very high mortality rate associated with it. It is caused by an abnormal reaction to anesthetic medicines. The current treatment is to cover the patient in ice totally. However, if you are performing an open heart operation and this condition sets in, the chances of surviving are at best slim. This would allow for constant monitoring during the surgical procedure and would alert the medical personnel of a suspected reaction and increase the chances of saving that patient's life. Malignant Hyperthermia can cause a patient's temperature to climb to 110 degrees fahrenheit within a matter of several minutes. If the medical personnel were able to see the rise in the temperature early enough, the medicine that is causing the disturbance can be discontinued and appropriate treatment can begin immediately.
 4. I claim that the Thermangel will be useful in treating other illnesses. This unit would also be useful for therapeutic hyperthermia. This is currently being researched as an adjunctive thrapy for cancer patients. In other words, they heat the body to destroy the cancer. Therapeutic hyperthermia combined with radiation therapy has an efficacy rate of 67% versus 33% with radiation alone. It is also helpful in reducing alopecia, or hair loss associated with cancer treatments.
 5. I claim that the Thermangel will help manage pediatric illness more effectively. It would also be useful for infants and children as their temperatures will climb much much higher and much faster than an adult. The problem of pediatric fevers accounts for many visits to the emergency room. Instead of a parent waking a child to check a fever, they would be able to monitor it without even touching the child. Children are also prone to seizures as a result of prolonged hyperthermia. This accounts for brain damage and permanent impairments to a child, simply from a fever out of control.
 6. I claim that the Thermangel will help treat exertional conditions found in exercise. This unit would also be helpful for treating athletes following exertion to reduce the strain on the body. Heat exhaustion is a common ailment for athletes. They have previously used cooling tubs, which are uncomfortable at best and expensive as well.
 7. I claim that the Thermangel will be helpful in resusciatation procedures. In addition, current research in cardiac resuscitation utilizing cooling strategies has shown to improve the outcomes of high mortality situations. 